TODAY WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME OUR GUEST AUTHOR, JANICE SEAGRAVES, WHO IS SHARING CHAPTER 1 OF HER NOVEL, 'ALIEN RESCUERS' RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat
- Jul 26
- 9 min read
ALIEN RESCUERS
BY JANICE SEAGRAVES
Rescuer excerpt
CHAPTER ONE: SABER
Saber Daystar had an itchy, creepy sensation crawling up his spine. His attention swung to a pair of piercing blue eyes, watching him intently through a small hole in the window. He gave a start then scrambled to his feet. Someone’s outside my window? “How did you...? That window is constructed from thick, escape-proof plas-glass.”
“Never mind how,” said a female in a soft voice. “Is it true Arcons can run fast, make excellent bodyguards, and see well in the ultraviolet range?”
“Who are you?” He approached the window with tentative steps. “What are you up to?” “Answer my question then I’ll answer yours,” she shot back.
“Seems an odd way to inspect the slaves for tomorrow’s auction. So, you checked the auction catalogue and found me. The last Arcon in the galaxy.” He peered through the opening, observing the female’s button nose and fringe of brown hair.
“Hell no. I hate slavery.” She moved so she could stare at him with one eye then arched an eyebrow. “You’re wasting time.”
“An exchange of information then?” He paused. What do I have to lose? “My people can see in the dark and well into the ultraviolet. We are known for our speed and fierce in our duty.
Your turn. Now start talking.”
“Awesome sauce, that’s exactly what I need.” She bounced up and down. “I’ve got a laser cutting tool that burns through all this shit. So, do you want to get out of here or what?”
He tensed. The audacity of the proposal had him momentarily speechless. Does she need a bodyguard or a free slave? “Who wouldn’t? I’m being sold in the morning.”
“Agree to help me, then I’ll rescue you from this hellhole.” She turned slightly away from the window like she might leave. “Your choice.”
“Hey, stop the chatter in there,” yelled one of the guards stationed down the hall. “You need to get your beauty sleep for tomorrow’s auction.” The guard snorted. “Big day for all you slaves getting new masters and all that.”
“Or would you prefer entertaining us for a few hours instead?” The other guard chuckled. “We promise not to bruise you up too much.”
Saber rotated toward the clear front of his cell. With his stomach in a tight knot, he hoped the guards didn’t come seeking a playmate. He’d heard the screams of their victims. The sadistic guards weren’t known for their bedmate selection. Anyone or anything would do.
The scuff of the guard’s boots got closer.
As his gut churned, Saber placed his back against the window, hiding the female’s handiwork.
The redheaded, blue-skinned guard peered into his cell with a smirk. “Are you the one talking to yourself? If you are, I can give you something to do with that pretty mouth of yours.” Saber stood still, breathing hard. He shook his head.
With a glance down the hall where his partner was stationed, the guard licked his lips and leaned closer to one of the ventilation slits cut into the plas-glass. “I watched you bathe this morning. You are one sinfully handsome bastard. I love your muscles and tight ass. If my employer wasn’t there, I would have gotten into the spray with you. Of course, I wouldn’t have gotten you clean.”
Saber didn’t answer. He ground his teeth. Go back to heckling the slaves, you monster.
“I also wanted you to know before the night is over, I plan on wrapping your long white hair around my fist.” The guard caught his bottom lip between his teeth and nodded.
Saber stiffened. He narrowed his eyes at the male but still said nothing. He’ll have a fight on his hands if he did that to me.
“Lusk, you need to finish your rounds first,” shouted the guard’s partner.
“All right, all right. Don’t get your bowels in an uproar!” Lusk winked at Saber. “Later, pretty playmate.” He sauntered away, dragging his fingertips across the plas-glass, causing a squeaking noise.
After making sure the guard was gone, Saber turned to the bore hole in the window. He put his mouth to it, so his next words wouldn’t be mistaken or overheard. “As long as I don’t have to fight in another gladiator match—you have my solemn vow. I will help you in whatever endeavor you require and never cause you harm. Just get me out of here.”
“I can do it fast or slow.” She held up a tiny laser. “This is slow.”
One of the slaves started to shriek. Saber spun to the front of his cell. He swallowed hard. “Fast. Please hurry.”
“Sure, but you’ll have to make a dash for it and climb quick."
“I understand and will comply.” He checked the front of his cell for the guard.
“Fantastic. Hold your breath and cover your face. This shit works in no time.” The female pressed something dark gray that hissed against the window’s remaining plas-glass, and the noise continued to get alarmingly loud.
Mash explosives? The female must be mad! Saber hastily scrambled into the far corner of his cell. He took a deep breath then locked his hands behind his head. The window blew out with only a slight puff of noise. Bits of brick and plas-glass rained down his bare back.
The sudden resounding buzz indicated the alarm had been triggered.
A black gloved, five-fingered hand waved at him from the blown-out window. “C’mon, time to get out of there.”
When the echo of booted feet started getting closer to his cell, Saber’s stomach filled with ice. The guards. If they catch me, I’ve had it. There was no time to think about the consequences; every second counted. The adrenaline surged through his veins as he darted toward the window. With a swift motion, he hoisted himself through the jagged opening, the cool night air whipping against his face and bare upper body.
Upon reaching the ground, a force field slammed into him—like the sting of a million insects. The sensation grew stronger, causing his body to burn. Spasms tightened the muscles in his legs, feet, arms, and hands. As a crushing sensation built in every joint and along his spine, Saber couldn’t catch his breath and collapsed. His head swam, darkness filled the edges of his vision.
“I’ve got you.” The female slipped her palm behind his bare back, lifting his upper body. “This will make the pain go away.”
As a black cloth was forced over his head, the brutal electrical current abruptly cut off. Saber sagged with relief then sat forward to push his arms through the jacket sleeves the female helped him into. He quickly warmed.
The female’s soft voice whispered in his ear. “Leave the hood up. It’ll cover your white hair.” She handed him some kind of thing with straps and curved prongs. “Climb with me.”
He searched for his rescuer, but she was already ascending the wall. She used some sort of device over her hands.
“The alarm is going off. What happened?” yelled one of the guards, his voice getting louder.
With his limbs still cramping, Saber couldn’t climb up after his rescuer. He dove against the wall in deep shadow.
“An explosion, you idiot,” answered Lusk, leaning out the window, he searched the area.
“The Arcon is escaping, and I didn’t get a chance to have any fun with him.”
“The boss will be furious.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
When the crunch of booted feet moved away from the window, Saber slipped on the claws the female had given him. He leaped for the wall. The claws were surprisingly easy to climb with and hooked onto the brick with ease, but his slipping feet slowed him. The roof was far away, but he kept going. Finally, despite burning muscles, he reached the roof’s eaves. He pulled up and over onto the tiles.
“Over here.” Further up, the dark shape of the female waved to him.
Saber scurried over to drop alongside his benefactor and lowered his face to the roof tiles, breathing in dust and dirt. His side tingled where their bodies met. She gazed at him through the eye holes of a mask she must have just put on, then turned her attention toward the guards below.
Two guards in dull gray uniforms stood together and had their heads bent over something in one of the male’s hands. Another guard joined them. Saber could only make out two words… “Tracking signal.”
Saber’s stomach tightened. He grasped the smooth metal circling his throat. Goddess, my slave collar.
“What’s that?” asked a loud voice. A light beam from a handheld swung up to the roof.
Both he and the mysterious female flattened themselves against the tiles. Saber pulled the hood lower over his face.
“Nothing but night birds,” said one of the guards. “Let’s move out, the Arcon is already outside of the exit, and those creatures run fast.”
All three light beams turned as one, heading away from the building. The light bounced as the guards jogged along before disappearing out the gate.
“They’re going the wrong way,” Saber whispered. Escape can’t possibly be this easy, can it?
“You’re wearing the latest tech in burglar wear—a hoody with built-in shielding. It’s scattering their tracking signal, so they think you’re running away and not up here watching those boneheads chase a phantom.” The female got her feet under her but remained in a crouch. “Follow me.”
Keeping low, he shadowed her until they stopped at a flat place at the top of the building.
Behind a huge environmental control system, she turned to him and pulled off her mask. Her large blue eyes gave her face an innocent quality. Her light brown hair moved easily in the slight breeze. No blemish marred her tan-colored skin. The tight black clothing absorbed the light, making it hard to see her figure clearly. Standing with her back straight, she came to just under his pecs.
“We can’t stay here long.”
With a hand to his chest, Saber bowed deeply. “Greetings. My name is Saber Daystar. Thank you for rescuing me from the auction house.”
“You’re welcome. I’m Mouse Field, but if you call me field mouse, there will be bloodshed.” Mouse slipped off the climbing claws and stuck them in a side pocket on her pants. She held out her arm. “Together we’re cat and mouse.”
Cat and mouse? For a moment, he stared at her outstretched limb. He removed his claws and stuck them in the pocket of the hoody.
Mouse made an exasperated noise, grabbed his palm, pumping it up and down in a most peculiar manner. “This is how my people greet each other from my world.” “I see.” Saber shook her hand vigorously.
She pulled her hand free, massaging her fingers as if he’d hurt her.
Guilt washed over him. “I’m so sorry,” he said softly. “I’ll be more careful in the future. You have nothing to fear from me. I’ve made a solemn vow to assist you in any way I can.”
“Let’s discuss it when we’re in a safer location. Now that we have caught our breaths, come with me. We are going to parkour the hell out of here.” She pulled her mask back on then raced across the roof. Gaining speed, she leaped like a shadow as she crossed to the next building.
“Parkour?” Saber sidestepped over to the edge to glance down. He swallowed hard. He dried his sweaty palms on his pants. They were twenty stories up and the roofs were not even. The building Mouse had jumped to was lower than the auction house. If he fell from this height, he might break something. Like his neck.
Mouse motioned for him to follow.
He shook his head.
She waved in a more exaggerated manner.
“The ground is too far away.” With his chest constricting, he found it hard to breathe.
Her soft words floated to him on the night breeze. “Don’t look down. Just jump.”
“Goddess.” His heart pounded faster. “This is insane. She wants me to jump?” He rubbed his arms with a glance down again. I must remember I’m a good hurdler, the best in the squad. Even Chase couldn’t keep up, and he is our fastest runner. He walked back and stopped to judge the distance. “I must have lost all sense in the slave cell.”
Mouse strode to the side, allowing him more room to land on the other roof.
“I’m just as unhinged as she is.” Saber ran. He reached the roof’s edge then gathered himself into a leap which easily crossed the gap between buildings. When he came down on the opposite building, he turned his leap into a roll, tucking in his shoulder.
After he stood, Mouse joined him, patting him on the back. “That was totally lit. I thought you weren’t gonna do it, but then, you came sailing over like it was nothing.”
“This is insanity.” He straightened, dusting off his arm and shoulder.
She brushed off his back. “I’m so used to parkouring to get around I don’t think of walking anywhere anymore. C’mon, let’s go. You’ve done the hard one and the rest is cake.” She darted across the roof then leaped to the next building, but it wasn’t as far.
Saber did a slow jog and bounded over, the ground flashed underneath him. He landed hard on the roof tiles.
Mouse kept going, parkouring to the next roof. As they made their escape, the sound of alarms faded into the distance, replaced by the pounding of his heart.
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BIO
My Bio: Janice Seagraves writes sci‑fi romance filled with adventure, heat, and heart. She grew up in a small California farming town, where wide‑open skies and quiet nights sparked her imagination long before she ever put words on a page. When tendonitis took away her ability to paint, she picked up a laptop instead — and discovered a new creative home in storytelling. Since 2010, she has been building the Chronicles of Arcon universe, a sprawling world of alien cultures, fierce heroines, and interconnected love stories. Her characters tend to keep talking long after the book is finished, and she happily follows them into new adventures. Her stories blend alien romance, adventure, and heartfelt connections across a richly imagined universe.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0056D223Y/allbooks?ccs_id=e3416a84-da5b-4a35-9033-fdc935538bf1
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COMING SOON: On Monday, 27th July, our amazing team member, author Richard 'Doc' Correa, is sharing the prologue from his WIP, 'Razor'.
Thank you for having me on today. It was fun. :)
What a great first chapter. The last line hooks me to want to read more. Really enjoyed :)